FOXNews.com: Fantasy Fest costume parties begin in Key West

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Fantasy Fest costume parties begin in Key West Oct 22nd 2012, 14:16 KEY WEST, Fla. –  The masked balls, parties and costume competitions of Fantasy Fest are underway in Key West. The 10-day festival began Friday night at a coronation ball where locals Mark Patterson and Liz Ketcham were crowned king and queen. Aspiring royals campaigned by raising money for the Florida Keys' AIDS Help organization. They collected nearly $142,000. Fantasy Fest culminates Oct. 27 with a nighttime parade featuring costumed marching groups, Caribbean bands and floats. This year's theme, "A-Conch-Alypse," spoofs an ancient apocalypse prophecy. The Florida Keys island chain was nicknamed the "Conch Republic" after a tongue-in-cheek secession from the U.S. in 1982. Officials say the colorful annual event has a $30 million impact in the Keys. The first Fantasy Fest was in 1979.

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